Cavity in My 12 Month Old!

I am so sorry! All the things I would have suggested were the cause of the problem (Soda, fluoride, ect) aren't!! You are right to be concerned about the fluoride. Excessive fluoride causes fluoridosies which would weaken not strengthen the teeth. http://www.fluoridealert.org/dental-fluorosis.htm

Do look into the effects of fluoride on the body (www.mercola.com has some) and find a different dentist- maybe an oral surgeon. I really liked Dr Hoffman in Clear Lake but I don't know if he does babies.

There IS fluoride in the water but probably not enough to cause a problem with his teeth, unless he's especially sensitive to it.

I am not sure what area you live in; but we use Dr. Bogart. He is on Clear Lake City Blvd. and he is awesome. My kids love him. My daughter at age 4 had to have a tooth removed and one capped. He had a specialist come in to sedate her so that she wouldn't be terrified of going to the dentist in the future and it worked. She is now 8 and loves going to the dentist even though she has constant fillings and problems. Definitely get a second opinion. Holding your son down may make him terrified of going the next time.

That doesn't sound right. A friend of mine's daughter had a "defect" in her two canines. They weren't cavaties; they were something that had not formed correctly before the teeth erupted. The dentist said that she had probably been ill when the teeth were forming and that permanently scarred the enamel, or something like that. She just put a tooth-colored "putty" over the spots- no drilling at all, and that stayed on until the teeth fell out on their own. I can't imagine that your child has a cavity in a tooth that only has been around for a few months.
If work does need to be done, I would avoid drugs until you know for sure that just holding him in your lap isn't enough. My son fell out of bed when he was three, lost his two front teeth, and had to be fitted for a bridge. They gave him a sedative and he kept throwing up. We had to reschedule. The next time I just held him in my lap, stroking his belly and talking to him and it worked like a charm. Definitely do the flouride treatment since it will strengthen the enamel. The dentist is trying to avoid a root canal, which is a much more serious procedure.
Good luck, but it sounds like a second opinion is in order.

I would definitely go find another dentist. Babies feel pain just like everyone else - you do NOT just hold them down for a root canal!!!!! This is a huge problem in the pediatric world and unfortunately is still all too common.

I would definately get another opinion!! Good luck!

I'm with you "WHAT?"! We use a wonderful pediatric dentist in Pearland at ABC 123 Pediatric Dentistry, Dr Diaz is great! Although my son has not had any cavities I have seen other children in preparation for some dental work lying down with a mask on, so I assume they use some sort of general anesthesia or gas or something.

Here is their web site, the whole office is great!

http://www.abc123pediatricdentistry.com/

I would definitely reccomend a second opinion on this. Some teeth defects are genetic and not your fault. Although I did not use floridated water, my sons molars are soffter than normal and Dr. Diaz feels it is genetic. We also use the liquid floride applied at night to help strengthen his teeth. So far so good, although since your son is so young I would probably think twice about using the floride, my son is 8 so it is a different story.

Good luck, I am curious to hear how it all turns out!